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Becky - hi just waiting on the chat
Hal - Hi, Becky. Are you here for the 'Being Mentored' session?
Becky - Yes I am. I am a mentor or our Head Start program
Becky - for our Head Start program that is
Hal - Welcome. We're early, but as long as we're here... Great, Becky. Is this your 1st year as a mentor?
Becky - Yes, it's my first year as a mentoring teacher
Hal - How is it going so far, Becky? Tell us about your protege.
Becky - well I have several protege's It seems to being going well so far.
Hal - Becky. Several! Do you find there is enough time to spend with them all?
Becky - Some days I don't feel like a mentoring teacher however.
Hal - Why is that, B?
Becky - It's sort of how are program is running now. I have 3 as of now
Hal - Are all 3 Head Start?
Becky - I have 3 all in different counties. I travel out to their sites for a visit and they come observe my site. I make monthly contacts with them all
Becky - yes they are all Head Start
Hal - And are you a full-time teacher as well?
Becky - of course they may contact me anytime
Becky - yes I have classroom of my own
Hal - As a practicing mentor, please share your insights with them.
Becky - the powers that be have thought of requiring new staff to do an "internship" of sorts
Becky - I don't know how that could work out BUT it does sound likea good idea
Kathleen - Beth, are you being mentored?
Hal - Hi, Beth. Are you a new teacher?
BethA - Good to be here
BethA - I am a new teacher.....forgive me if I have to run off, I have 3 young ones of my own
BethA - I have a mentor at my school
Hal - Stay as long as you can, but feel free to go when you need to.
BethA - Thanks
Kathleen - Beth, this is Hal Portner, author of Being Mentored. He is hosting the chat this evening. So you two go ahead, tell Hal how it's going so far for you.
BethA - My two year old is sick, so who knows
Hal - BethA . . .do you find your mentor helpful? If so, how so?
BethA - I do find her helpful. She is someone I can go to whenever I need questions answered etc
BethA - Good to meet you Hal
BethA - Being a new teacher is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life
Hal - Has she observer you teaching?
BethA - Yes...but only once
BethA - I am also going through alternative certification and have a mentor throught that program as well
Hal - And did you two discuss the observation afterwards?
BethA - Yes we did. I observed her as well
BethA - I have a very difficult class
BethA - very talkative with a lot of off-task behavior problems
Hal - Wonderdful! Any insights come out of that post-observation discussion?
BethA - Yes. She gave me some examples of ways she would have handled some situations that came up
Hal - Were you able to reflect on what happened during the class and come up with some possible alternatives on your own?
BethA - I love observing other teachers as well
BethA - yes. I have seen some big improvements since the observation
Hal - Yes. Observing others is often helpful as well as enjoyable.
BethA - There are so many different teaching styles
Hal - For example. What improvements? Anything to do with the talkitive students? What grade do you teach?
BethA - I teach fifth grade, lower income, mostly hispanic students
BethA - My kids need more external motivators, unfortunately.
BethA - She gave me some good ideas. (ie. talleys for good behavior during transition times)
Hal - Do you think your teaching style is working with the diverse group of students?
BethA - Classroom management is my weakness, I'm afraid.
BethA - I would like to say it is working
BethA - I still have a lot to learn
Hal - Read Harry & Rosemary Wong's wonderful book, :The First Days of School.' It has a lot of great ideas about classroom management.
BethA - I actually got to see Harry Wong this summer!
BethA - I love that book
Hal - Where did you see Harry?
BethA - He was here in the D/FW area and spoke to my alternative certification class
BethA - He is amazing.
Hal - Harry and I will be presenting sessions at the National Staff Development Council Conference in Boston in a few weeks,
BethA - Really?
Hal - Yep. anyone from your district be there? (Where is D/FW?)
BethA - Dallas/Fort Worth
BethA - Not that I know of Hall
BethA - Hal, is your book geared toward mentors or mentees?
Hal - Welcome back, Kathleen. Beth & I have been having a good chat. She seems to be enjoying teaching 5th grade. Right, Beth?
BethA - I love the kids. 5th grade is challenging, yet rewarding
Hal - I have written a book focusing on each. "Being Mentored" is for the protege (you) and Mentoring New Teachers is for the mentor.
BethA - good
Kathleen - I started out teaching grades 5 & 6. No mentors, and I wish I'd had Harry Wong's book, could have used the help.
BethA - I have utilized a lot of Harry Wong's ideas
Hal - Have you read "Being Mentored?" If not, I suspect you will find it helpful . . .and easy to read, considering your own children (how is the sick one doing) must take up considerable time.
BethA - I haven't read it, but I really should.
BethA - (the sick one is right here whining at me)
Hal - If you do, let me know your reaction.
BethA - Okay. I will. I will go look for it this weekend
Hal - Again, Beth, where is D/FA?
BethA - Dallas/Fort Worth
BethA - Where are you?
Hal - (FW . . . sorry.
BethA -
Hal - My books are available from Amazon.com & Barnsandnoble.com as well as the publisher, Corwin Press.
BethA - I read just about anything I can get my hands on if it has to do with teaching
BethA - Have you written many? (forgive my ignorance)
Hal - Sounds like you have found your profession! Go get those 5th graders ... help them learn in spite of themselves!!
Kathleen - Hal, you have 3 books out, right?
BethA - I was a flight attendant for 10 years.....this is what I have always wanted to do?
BethA - !
Kathleen - or 4?
Hal - Three books having to do with teacher induction and mentoring . . . all (according to the publisher) best sellers.
BethA - great!
Hal - Hense the alternate route. I just finished a presentation to 25 retired teachers & administrators who are mentoring 2nd career teachers in Connecticut through that state's alternate route program.
BethA - What do you think of the alternative route?
Hal - If it's helping to bring people like you into the profession, I'm all for it!
BethA - I wish I would've been a teacher all along, honestly
BethA - I feel like I still have a lot to learn
Hal - Don't we all . . .
BethA - gotta run
BethA - baby needs me
BethA - It was great talking to you, Hal
BethA - Thanks Kathleen
BethA -
BethA - I'll get the book
Hal - Bye, Beth, glad to have had our chat, Best wishes for a great year (and a healthy baby)
BethA - Take care Hal. Is there an email addy I can use to let you know what I think of the book?
Hal - My email address is portner_associates@compuserve.com
Hal - Bye, Kathleen. Thanks for scheduling this chat. Maybe the searver will be kinder to us some other time.
